Agricultural implement



June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT 14 Sheets-Sheei 1 Original Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTORS D R m m RE R C d im me mz HEODZ SLRAE L T N F U/ 8L N WMOM W QORDHH sww w M MK HRN cm mw RCJ mJ Y. B E m June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,323,445

I AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Original Filed June 10, 1963 1 1 Sheets-Sheet 2 m1 VEN ms RICHARD W, BUSH/MEYER CHARL E8 D. MILLER, DECEASED By JOHN 7f HOLMSTROM Jn SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR By EMERSON B DONNELL n JACK SHORE RTMRNEYS June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHN\IE'YER ETAL 3,323,445

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT 14 Sheets-Sheet F Original Filed June 10, 1963 IN VE N TORS D R m m m mu D W fl RMMN WJMM M Mi mum 5L N m mwwmm 03 H5 A A MM I EJ H N M wmw E R C J m m June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,323,445

AGRI CULTURAL IMPLEMENT 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 10, 1965 .elkl

Q IN vE/v TORS RICHARD W BUSH/MEYER JAur SHORE ATTORNEYS June 6, 1967 R. W. BUSHMEYER ETAL AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l4 heets-Sheet 5 Original'Filed June 10, 1963 IN VE N TORS RICHARD W. BUSHME YER CHARLES 0. MILL ER, uses/1am By JOHN 7. HOLMSTROM Jr.

SPEC/AL ADMI'N/STRATOR By EMERSON BDONNELL and JACK SHORE IIIWRNEYS June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,32

AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l4 Sheets-Sheet e Original Filed June 10 1963 IN :VEN TORS 0 M mm Rm mL r: 7.5L ER, M m NR M500 0 HL A Mi S BMSMHLB M NKM mw RMT E WWW m [H0 RCJ M June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,323,445

AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l4 heets-Sheet 0rigi nal Filed June 10 IN VEN TORS D R m m R m n m Mm WM HL RA L L U./ 84 W. LE 0 OP 0 H5 ME T. n N m M C J m y EMERSON BDONIVELI. nd JA, 6% SHQRE ATTORNEY:

June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,32

AGRI CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTORS man/m0 w. EUSHMEYEI? CHARLES 0. MILLER, DECEASED By JOHN 71 HOLMSTROM Jn SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR fMERSOA/flDoA/NELL and .M c K SHORE 4 TTORME 1 5 June 6, 19%? R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,

AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l 4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed June 10, 1963 MI VE N TORS RICHARD W BUSHf/IEYER CHARLES D. MILLER, DECEASED HILIIIF .l I I I By JOHN T. HOLMSTIIOM, Jr

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR By EMERSOIVBDONNELL and Jam SHORE I} ITQRNEY? June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,323,445

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Original Filed June 10, 1963 14 Sheets-Sheet 1'0 IN VENTORS RICHARD w. BUSH/MEYER CHARLES D. MILLER, 054954350 By JOHN 7f HOLMSTROM Jr.

SPEC/AL Am/Iv/srRMoR By EMERSON B DOA/NEIL and mm SHORE fl T'roRNEVS June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,

AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Original Filed June 10 1963 M! Vii IV TORS fiICHflRD M4 HUSHMEYEE? CHARLES D; MILLER, DECEASED aw. Wm

W H W H PHDNF. TA t SLNDH MA m @WAUHM W B V 5 a I WN N I m EJ v. 9w. E

June 6, 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETA; 3,

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Original Filed June 10, 1963 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 N G INVENTORS RICHARD w. BUSH/MEYER CHARLES 0. MILLER, DECEASED By JOHN T. HOLMSTROM Jr.

SPEC/AL numb/swarm? By EMERSON B DONNELL and JACK SHORE r-Atrmnevs June 6, 1967 R. W. BUSHMEYER ETA!- AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT l4 Sheets-Sheet 15 Original Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTORS RICHARD w. BUSH/MEYER CHARLES 0. MILLER, DECEASED W L WM L D E "M4 .N E5 m mm 0% 0 HQ HP 5 Z r N K N 0 C M M A J m m, E m

June 1967 R. w. BUSHMEYER ETAL 3,32

AGR I CULTURAL IMPLEMENT 14 Sheets-Sheet 1;

Original Filed June 10 1963 D m KW D. M LT M 8 W 0 0 3 H LI R N A H ww w SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR By EMERSON B Dan/v: LL and United States Patent 3,323,445 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Richard W. Bushmeyer, Rockford, 111., and Charles D.

Miller, deceased, late of Rockford, 111., by John Holmstrom, In, administrator, Rockford, I1l., assignors to .I. I. Case Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 287,175, June 10, 1963. This application Mar. 25, 1965, Ser. No.

32 Claims. Cl. 100-86) The present invention relates to field apparatus for collecting and compressing forage or other fibrous material into a densely compacted elongated roll, and subsequently cutting the roll into individual, compact bodies, and this is a continuation of the application of Richard W. Bushmeyer and Charles D. Miller, Ser. No. 287,175, filed June 10, 1963, now abandoned.

The forming of hay or other forage material into compact bodies, generally known as pellets or wafers, has been performed heretofore by large, complicated, stationary machines that require large amounts of power and are not adaptable to operation in the field. There have been some field pelleters produced, but these generally speaking, are large, extremely heavy, and require such great amounts of power that separate engines are invariable necessary, which of course adds further to the weight. Such machines have als obeen extremely complicated and expensive. Furthermore, these machines have not been able to handle the material at a rate commensurate with their high cost, and therefore have not been readily acceptable to farmers or other users. Furthermore, the pellets formed by such machines have generally been composed of a mass of very short pieces of fiber or crop material, and are generally unfamiliar to livestock, and unpalatable. Some pellets of this nature tend to crumble in time, after which there remains a mass of very small fragments which are not convenient to handle by the same mechanism which would ordinarily be provided to handle the pellets.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus which incorporates a feeding mechanism capable of picking up fibrous material from the ground, orienting the fibers in a prescribed manner, and directing them into a compressing roller apparatus which receives the material into a space between the rollers and forms it into a densely compacted roll, winding the material on a rotating spindle between the rollers if desired. It is contemplated that for some conditions, the machine could be adapted to also cut the crop from the ground in the first instance. As the material is compacted, it is also thoroughly intertwined and ejected from the space between the rollers, to a suitable cutting mechanism for cutting the roll into bodies of desired length. The process is continuous, and thus the machine is capable of handling a large quantity of hay, forage or other fibrous material in a relatively short time.

The formation of the roll and subsequent pellets is accomplished with relatively low pressure by an interweaving action of the strands of material so that the pellets will have substantial body and will stay together 3 323,445 Patented June 6, 1967 veyor, hay fork, or other expedient, and which is familiar and inviting to the animals.

In view of the nature of the process performed by this machine, and the lack of any requirement for very extreme pressure or compression of the fibers, the apparatus can be relatively light in weight, and require only moderate power. As a further result of these conditions, the machine may be composed of easily fabricated parts which are conservatively stressed, and have an extended life expectancy.

Illustrative embodiments of the machine are described in the following specification and shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention, shown coupled to a tractor, parts being broken away and others omitted to avoid confusion.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view, illus trating the manner of forming a core of crop material.

FIG. 3a is a plan view of one of the forming rollers, diagrammatic in character, and illustrating the combined circumferential and axial movement of the crop core.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of certain forming and finishing rollers, with parts broken away, and with supporting and driving mechanism omitted.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of portions of the forming rollers indicated in FIG. 4, with parts broken away, illustrating the core forming space which exists between said rollers, and also illustrating a spindle which may be used in the forming process.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view diagrammatic in character, generally axially of the core of crop material, illustrating the formation thereof, and the cutting of the core into short sections or pellets.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on a reduced scale partly in section on line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the forming an finishing rollers and their drive mechanism indicated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6, with parts broken away and others omitted.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectionalview of a detail taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail of the forming and finishing rollers shown in FIG. 10, with one of the sets of rollers in horizontal axial section to show the drive to the finishing roller, parts being omitted and others broken away to show what lies beneath.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged rear elevation of a portion of the machine showing part of the feeding mechanism in section on the line 1313 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and others omitted.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of a fragment of the machine showing an adjusting means for the finishing rollers.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged side elevation of the cut-off mechanism, with parts broken away.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the cut-off mechanism, with parts broken away.

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1818 of FIG 10, with one of the forming rollers omitted, showing a combined scraper and crop deflector.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the relationship between the finishing rollers and cutter, substantially on the line 19-49 of FIG. 16, with parts broken away and others omitted.

' FIG. 20 is a perspective view in the nature of a diagram illustrating the transmission of the drive from the input shaft to the various departments of the machine.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view with parts omitted and others broken away, of a modified form of feeding mechanism applicable to a machine of the character described.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of this modification with parts omitted and others broken away.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2323 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary plan view of the construction indicated in FIG. with parts omitted, and showing a modified form of spindle drive.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2525 of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a sectional View on the line 26-26 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 5, of a portion of a machine of the type disclosed with parts omitted and using a modified type of spindle.

Similar reference characters have been applied to the same parts throughout these drawings and the following specification, which show and describe a preferred embodiment of the invention.

General description and theory Referring to FIG. 1, the machine in the present instance is drawn behind a tractor by means of a drawbar 22 connected to an A frame or the like 24 forming part of the machine, the whole being supported on drawbar 22 and ground engaging wheels and 26. The mechanism is driven in the illustrative embodiment by means of a power take-01f, generally designated as 27, actuated by the tractor in well-known manner, and which drives the several elements or departments of the machine through mechanism which will be described in detail. It is to be understood that other sources of power, such as an engine mounted on the pelleter, are contemplated as suitable and within the scope of the invention.

Briefly, the crop material to be treated or formed into rolls or pellets is gathered from the field by means of a pickup, generally designated as 28, the crop having previously been harvested by any suitable cutting mechanism. The cut crop is then passed by the pickup to a beater 30, which combs the material, tending to arrange the fibers to extend in a common direction to a feeding auger 32. Auger 32 further combs the material and transmits it to a coaxial and faster running auger 34 which continues the motion of the material, still further combs it, and feeds it into a chamber formed between a plurality of specially shaped continuously rotated rollers, which will be more fully described, one of which is indicated at 36.

The crop material is formed by the rollers, preferably with the assistance of a rotatable spindle between the rollers, into a dense rapidly rotating core, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a spindle. The core is given a rapid and powerful axial movement in the direction of the tractor in FIG. 1, by reason of the rotation, shape and positioning of these rollers. The core of material is expelled into a chamber formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced finishing rollers, one of which is indicated at 38. The material is forced along the length of the finishing rollers by the material coming from behind, and part way along the length of the roller 38 it is cut into desired lengths by means of a cutting device or wheel 40.

The short lengths of the core of crop material are forced along the remaining length of the finishing rollers by the following material and expelled into a hopper or chute 42, from which they are picked up and taken by an elevator 44 to a trailing vehicle or other point of disposition.

Crop material may be compacted into a roll or core if it is introduced between a group of circumferentially spaced parallel rollers which are rotated in the same direction. Such a core may be caused to move lengthwise of the rollers by mounting them so that they are skewed in relation to each other. By skewed is meant mounting so they are non-parallel and non-intersecting. In other words, the rollers are mounted so that the planes of the axes of any two thereof intersect in most positions, but in one position are parallel to each other. To put it another way, the axes of the rollers cross each other but in spaced relation.

The rollers are clustered about a core forming chamber in such a position that the ends of their axes adjacent the exit end of said space, are circumferentially displaced about said chamber in the direction that the rollers are intended to turn.

The skewing relationship of the rollers hereinabove set forth will develop a very powerful and positive force tending to cause expulsion of the core axially thereof from said core forming chamber. The angle of skewing will determine the rate at which the core is expelled, given a predetermined speed of rotation of the core forming rollers. The angle of skewing is defined as that angle between the axis of the core and the axis of one of the wrapping rollers, when both core and wrapping roller are projected in a true pane. In order to obtain rapid movement of the core, the angle of skewing of the rollers will have to be substantial, as for example, something on the order of 5 to 20 degrees. It is to be understood that the rollers can be rotated at an increased rate with an attendant decrease in the angle of skewing, and still obtain rapid expulsion of the core. The skewing angle, speed of rotation of the core forming rollers, and the diameter of the roll can be varied in any manner desired to obtain the desired characteristics of operation.

If cylindrical or similarly shaped rollers are used, the angular velocity of the core will vary from point to point axially of the core. This is undesirable because it will tend to twist and break the core. Furthermore, cylindrical rollers skewed in this manner become too far apart at their ends, with the result that there is excessive space between the rollers through which material can escape. For this reason, the rollers are made gradually larger toward their ends thereby providing favorable velocity ratios and also closing the undesirable spaces. This results in the formation of a small diameter mid section and enlarged end sections. It is desirable to utilize such rollers mostly from the region of their smallest diameters toward their largest diameters, when rotated so that the crop traverse toward the large ends of the rollers. Therefore, the rollers are formed in the present illustrative machine, in a flared configuration progressing from a minimum diameter at one end to a maximum diameter at the other. The direction in which the rollers rotate determines the direction of progress of the core, and the rollers are rotated so that the core moves out from between them at the discharge end of the chamber, adjacent the large ends of the rollers.

The foregoing arrangement substantially avoids sliding of the crop in relation to the forming rollers, and also avoids twisting of the core. In other words, the particles will be moving at substantially the same angular velocity throughout the length of the core which prevents the twisting and breaking of the fibers and attendant reduction in the strength of the pellets. Also, it is advantageous to have the core forming chamber flared toward its exit end to accommodate the increasing cross section of the core as it has material added to it in its passage along the length of the rollers. For the most accurate rolling action on the crop core, use is made of the principle of the hyperbolic curve, but it is contemplated that various configurations of the core and rollers may be used to approximate this desirable action.

If a cluster of cylindrical rollers is skewed as herein described, the space between them defined by their innermost elements, will be hyperboloid, or body of revolution formed by a hyperbola rotated about its indefinite conjugate axis, which axis is congruent with the aforesaid chamber. A crop core rolled in such a chamber with cylindrical type forming rollers would be rotated faster in the narrow part of the space than it would in the wider part of the space. This would impart an undesirable twist to the core because the tangential velocity of the surfaces of the cylindrical rollers woud be the same from end to end, whereas the tangential velocity of a rotating core of the shape described would be greater at the large ends than at the relatively small middle portion. Enlargement of the rollers at their exit ends would tend to remedy this defect, since the enlarged ends would have a greater tangential velocity than the smaller sections of the rollers. Preferably a rate of curvature and enlargement is used, such that the ratio of the diameters of the core and the rollers is the same at any point in the length of the core forming space. In this way, the surface speeds of the core and the rollers are the same throughout the length of the chamber, and the core has a true rolling contact with the rollers. It is therefore formed by a wrapping action, there being substantially no twisting of the core and substantially no sliding thereof in relation to the forming rollers.

Hyperboloids, for use in the above relations, have certain unique properties in that the elements of the curved surfaces are straight lines; a hyperboloid being a solid figure defined by a straight line revolving about a nonparallel axis with which it does not intersect. In other words, the straight line which generates the hyperboloid surface crosses the axis but in spaced relation thereto, and revolves around the axis at a fixed distance or radius therefrom.

Since the surfaces of hyperboloids are composed of straight lines, it follows that two hyperboloids can be placed with their curved surfaces together in such a way as to make a straight line contact with each other, the axes of the two hyperboloids, of course, being spaced from each other at their nearest point to the extent of the combined radii of the smallest sections of the two bodies, and angled to the extent that the larger sections of the bodies are also in contact. When this is done it will be found that the points of contact between the hyperboloids define a straight line which is an element common to the two bodies.

If three or more hyperboloids, each having an individual axis, are properly clustered or assembled about a common axis or center line, their innermost straight line elements will be the same distance from the common axis and equally angled with respect to it. Revolving any one of the innermost straight line elements about the common axis will define a space which is in the shape of a hyperboloid whose axis is coincident with the common axis of the assemblage. The space defined in this manner is the approximate shape of the hay core formed between the rollers of the machine. The space so occupied by the hay core is termed the forming chamber. Such a core, or the chamber available for it, would be restricted at its mid portion as compared with its ends. The core would tend to move in one direction throughout its length, as will be explained, and if it is desired to avoid compressing the hay by passing it from a larger to a smaller part of the space, the rollers may be, and preferably are discontinued at or close to their smallest diameter, and only sections of increasing diameter toward the exit end of the core forming space are used, so that all of the reaction force exerted by the rollers on the core will be in the same direction.

The application of this principle is well shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In these views, the core is being formed in a space or chamber 46 generally in the configuration of one-half of a hyperboloid, and is rotating toward the observer, or counterclockwise as seen from the right. The core is designated as 47, and is moving axially in the direction indicated by the arrow 48, or toward the larger ends of the rollers.

The manner in which the core is for-med is well shown in FIG. 3, it being understood that the forming rollers and the finishing rollers are shown separated in this diagrammatic view, whereas the forming and finishing rollers in the actual machine are placed as close together as possible so that there is no appreciable space between them where the core is unsupported. The crop material is fed between the rollers transversely of core 47, as indicated by arrows 49. The actual relations of the various rollers to each other are well shown in FIG. 4, and the means by which the parts are supported in these relations are shown elsewhere in the drawings and will be fully described. It will be clear that the action of the rollers 36, 50, and 52 will be to roll the crop material into a mass of rotating, generally helically and spirally arranged compacted fibers, and to positively and rapidly expel the rotating mass axially of the space between the rollers. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the aforesaid ratio between the diameters of the rollers and core is constant, there will be a true rolling contact between the rollers and the core throughout the line of contact therebetween, and also the core will be caused to rotate the same number of turns at one end as at the other, in a given time. There is therefore no twisting of the core, but a simple building up of the fibers as they are wound on each other, and a compacting and positive expulsion of the mass.

Rollers 36, 50, and 52, preferably have their surfaces slightly roughened, as by knurling as seen at 53, FIG. 5, to ensure good frictional grip on the crop material. A resiliently mounted fourth roller 54 is placed, in the present instance, generally above roller 52 and is preferably another hyperboloid of suitable configuration and so positioned that it can make a line contact with roller 52. Roller 54 is primarily for feeding the crop material as will further appear. Rollers 36, 50, and 52 are rotated in a common direction, while roller 54 is rotated in the opposite direction, or toward the observer in FIG. 4. The resulting bite between rollers 54 and 52 is utilized to feed crop material into the space between rollers 36, 50, and 52, as will be described in detail.

As seen in FIG. 7, crop material 56 coming from auger 34 is caught in the bite between rollers 52 and 54, and propelled generally to the right into the space between rollers 36 and 52, which space is more generous than that between rollers 36 and 50 and between rollers 59 and 52 respectively.

To assist in starting the desired winding of the crop materiaL'and also to assist in controlling the axial movement of core 47, a spindle generally designated as 57, FIG. 5, occupies a substantial portion of the center of the core forming space 46, and in the illustrative embodiment is rotated at substantially the same rate as the core. The presence of spindle 57 produces a void within core 47 which, even if filled by inward expansion of the core of crop material when it is stripped off of spindle 57 by the action of the rollers, will remain as a central region of less density than would be the case if spindle 57 were not present. In this way, a hard central core within the resulting pellets is avoided, and it is contemplated that pellets could be made by this process in which the void would persist to the extent that the pellets would have actual openings therethrough. Such openings would be Valuable in furnishing ventilation and in drying pellets which might have been made from excessively moist crop material.

Pickup and feeding mechanism Returning to a more detailed description of the mechanism, pickup 28 comprises a generally horizontal cage or cylinder, generally designated as 58, FIG. 2, rotatable on a shaft 60, journaled in bearings as 62, only one of which is shown, carried on supporting arms 64. Arm 64 is carried on a pivot 66 supported on the machine structure in any suitable manner, and is urged in an upward direction by a spring 68 anchored at 70 and pulling on an arm 72 fixed to arm 64. In this way, substantially all of the weight of cage 58 is supported by arms 64. Cage 58 includes a plurality of bars 74 substantially parallel to shaft 60, to which are secured rake teeth 76. Teeth 76 extend outwardly between stripper plates 78, while cage 58 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2. In this way, crop material is picked up from the ground in well-known manner and passed backwardly over a platform 80. It is contemplated that a cutter bar of any suitable type may be positioned to cut crop material directly from the ground and feed it onto platform 80. Material passing over platform 80 is engaged by the wings 82 of beater which is arranged substantially parallel to pickup 28 and which rotates in a clockwise direction above platform 80, agitating the material and tending to arrange the individual fibers thereof in a common direction. Beater 30 also impels the material forcibly backward into engagement with auger 32.

Auger 32 is arranged rearwardly of and somewhat below beater 30 and comprises a shell or body portion 84 (see also FIG. 7) about which is fastened in the present instance, a pair of strips 86 and 88 arranged helically to form -a flighting for the auger. It has been found desirable to make the flighting relatively narrow or low in comparison to the diameter of the auger shell 84, the flighting in the illustrative embodiment shown, for example having a height of about one-tenth of the diameter of shell 84, and the pitch, or spacing of the strips being increased gradually toward the exit end of the auger or toward the right in FIG. 7. Auger 32 engages the crop material, continues the arranging or straightening action and impels the material lengthwise of itself at a constantly increasing velocity.

Auger 34 adjoins auger 32 at the exit end thereof, and has a conical shell 90 about which are arranged strips 92 and 94 spirally and helically disposed to form flighting for auger 34. Again, it has been found desirable that the flighting be narrow as compared to the diameter of shell 90. Auger 32 is disposed in a trough or housing 96 constituting a continuation of platform 80 and formed as a part of a feeder housing 98, being part of the structure of the machine and enclosing the auger, except at the front, while auger 34 is entirely enclosed in a housing or shroud 99 conforming closely to the outer margins of the flighting 9294. Shroud 99 terminates in a delivery channel 100 directed toward the bite between above-mentioned rollers 54 and 52. As will be apparent, in order to compress a forage crop at a rate which will be commercially desirable, a great deal of material must be handled by these augers in a comparatively short time. For this reason, auger 32 runs at a relatively high rate of speed, on the order of 600 rpm, while auger 34 operates at a much higher speed, on the order of 2000 rpm. Also, strips 92 and 94 forming the flighting for auger 34 increase in their pitch or spacing toward the outlet end of shroud 99, the overall effect of the beater and the two augers being to reduce the mass of forage material to a relatively small cross section but flowing at a very high rate through channel 100 and between rollers 54 and 52.

Such a feeder assemblage, as may occur to others skilled in the art, could have utility in connections other than that shown such as with a baler or forage harvester, inasmuch as crop material handled by the device would emerge from shroud 99 in a relatively compact stream and at a velocity sufiicient to project itself a considerable distance.

The increasing pitch of the flighting on both augers tends to cause uniform acceleration of the crop mass after it leaves beater 30 to the high velocity necessary at delivery channel 100. By this mechanism, the material is delivered in small enough compass to be fed between the rollers, but nevertheless, at a high rate so as to result in a large enough capacity for the machine.

The relatively high speed of auger 34 within shroud 99 acts to propel a blast of air through shroud 99 and along delivery channel 100, which further assists in presenting the crop forcibly into the bite between rollers 54 and 52.

Auger 34 is fixed on a shaft 102, as seen in FIG. 13, journaled in a bearing 104 and also in a bearing 106; bearing 104 being carried on a plate 108 forming a part of feed housing structure 98, while bearing 106 is carried on a plate 110, forming part of such structure remote from plate 108. Shaft 102 has a sprocket 112 from which it is driven, as will be later described. Auger 32 includes within shell 84, supporting members 114 and 116 fixed on a sleeve 118 journaled on shaft 102, in the present instance by bearings 120 and 122. In this manner, auger 32 may rotate independently of and at a different speed than auger 34. Sleeve 118 extends beyond the end of shell 84, remote from auger 34 and has a sprocket 124 fixed thereon through which auger 22 is driven, as will be further explained.

As heretofore stated, auger 34 receives crop material from auger 32, and therefore plate 108 is cut away or slotted to provide an opening 126 extending most of the way about the periphery of auger 32, through which the material may pass from auger 32 to auger 34 (see also FIG. 14).

From auger 34, the crop material is fed into the bite between roller 52 and charging roller 54.

While the similar rotation of forming rollers 36, 50 and 52 tends to move the crop material axially in a common direction, as explained in connection with FIG. 3a, hereinbefore, the remaining roller or charging roller 54 (rotating in the opposite direction) tends to move the crop material axially in the opposite direction.

It is to be noted that the curved surfaces of rollers 54 and 52 will not lie in contact with each other unless the axes of these rollers are skewed at a considerable angle to each other. This angle is such that when the large end of roller 54 is placed on top of the large end of roller 52 (as in the present machine) the small end of roller 54- will be positioned alongside the small end of roller 52. This relation is shown in FIGS. 4 and 10. By so disposing these rollers, a line of contact is established between the curved surfaces. However, the surfaces of rollers 52 and 54, while normally in or substantially in such line contact with each other, provide a combination rolling and sliding contact because of the aforesaid skewing of their axes and their fixed axial relationship. Thus, while the crop material in contact with roller 52 is impelled axially of the roller in one direction, said material also in contact with roller 54 is impelled at the same time in the opposite axial direction so as to receive a scraping or lacerating action as it passes betwen the rollers. Furthermore, roller 54 is pressed, by mechanism to be described, forcefully toward roller 52; in fact, with sufficient force to crush or partially crush some of the fibers or other parts of the crop. This will liberate certain moist constituents, including protoplasm which will be immediately distributed among the incoming fibers, leaves, etc. During the following rolling operations, this material will be well blended with the intertwining fibers which it will tend to cement together. It thus will become a binding agent and render any other binding expedient unnecessary for the pellets or crop rolls being produced.

In order ot prevent any adhering of the crop material to charging roller 54, a scraper and deflector blade 128 is suitably supported from plate 129 and 130 FIG. 10, in the space between rollers 36 and 52. The blade 128 has a sharp edge 131, FIG. 18, which scrapes the surface of roller 54 to remove any material adhering to roller 54. Since charging roller 54 is preferably one-half of a hyperboloid, the elements of its surface are straight lines, as heretofore explained, and edge 131 is conveniently made straight and disposed at an angle such as to lie in contact with roller 54 throughout its length. All of the material is guided by scraper-deflector 128 through the space between rollers 36 and 52 so as to be caught and rolled into a core 47 between rollers 36, 50 and 52.

The forming and finishing rollers Rollers 36, 58, and 52, as hereinbefore stated, are arranged in a cluster. The rollers are formed with a flared or gradually enlarging configuration, preferably each in the form of substantially one-half of a hyperboloid, this relation being well shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, and their axes recede from each other in the direction of the large ends of the rollers. Inasmuch as the flared rollers necessarily place their axes at a relatively wide spacing adjacent the large ends of the rollers and at a relatively close spacing adjacent the small ends of the rollers, the ends of the forming rollers where the axes thereof are closest to each other will be referred to as the proximal ends, and the opposite ends of the forming rollers where the axes thereof are more widely spaced will be referred to as the distal ends of the forming rollers. It is nevertheless true that the rollers, when placed together in a cluster as disclosed, position their axes as close together as possible while allowing necessary clearance to permit relative movement. The axes of rollers 36, 50 and 52 are also skewed, or displaced at the large ends of the rollers circumferentially of the space between the rollers in the direction in which the rollers are to be rotated. When the rollers are so operated, material introduced into said space will be rolled and advanced axially out of the space between and in the direction of the large ends of the rollers, as hereinbefore described, so that the point where the material leaves said space may be termed the exit end of said space.

Above-mentioned finishing roller 38 forms a continuation of forming roller 36. In like manner, a finishing roller 132 forms a continuation of above-mentioned roller 50, while a finishing roller 134 forms a continuation of abovementioned roller 52. Furthermore, forming rollers 36 and 52 are spaced apart a greater distance than rollers 36 and 50 on the one hand, and roller 50 and 52 on the other. In like manner, finishing rollers 38 and 134 are spaced from each other more than they are from their companion roller 132. This provides an opening leading into the space between these groups of rollers for feeding and separating purposes, as will appear.

It is desirable that the surfaces of the forming rollers shall be substantially continuous with those of the finishing rollers. However, in the structure illustrated, the axes of the forming rollers are disposed at substantial angles to'those of the finishing rollers. For supporting and driving these pairs of rollers, resort is had to a plate 135 carried in any suitable manner on a cross member 136 and supporting a bearing shell 137, best shown in FIG. 12, plate 135 constituting an end support for the rollers. Bearing shell 137 carries a shaft 138 on which is fixe above-mentioned roller 36.

Since the several forming rollers are all supported in a manner similar to roller 36, it will be necessary to describe only one in detail.

Shaft 138 is also supported in a bearing of suitable type 140 which is carried in a housing generally designated as 142, carried on a frame element 144 constituting another end support for the rollers. Frame element 144 also carries a bearing 146 which supports a shaft 148 forming an axle or support for above-mentioned finishing roller 38, a web 150 connecting the axle and the outer portion to form roller 38. Frame member 144 includes a gear housing portion 152 in which hearing 146 is mounted in any well-known manner, and a similar gear housing 154 is also carried by frame member 144 spaced from gear housing 152 circumferentially about the core forming chamber and carrying a bearing 156 for supporting above-mentioned finishing roller 134. A similar bearing housing and parts, not visible in FIG. 12, supports finishing roller 132. The several gear housings are arranged about the periphery of frame member 144, but are spaced apart to provide an opening at the center thereof to permit the passage of the core of crop material and to provide for the approach of the rim of roller 36 close to the edge of roller 38 to form a substantially continuous support for said core in it passage from between the forming rollers to the space between the finishing rollers. The angular disposition of each of the other forming rollers 50 and 52, as related to its corresponding finishing roller, results in an approach or substantial tangency of the ends of each of the forming rollers with its corresponding finishing roller at one point in their circumference. On the other hand, at the opposite point in their circumference, there is ample space for frame element 144 to extend outwardly of the set of rollers to be supported on any convenient portion of the machine structure as 157, through flange portions 158 and 159.

Roller 36 is driven from a universal joint shaft, generally designated as 160 which is connected with above-mentioned shaft 138. Within housing 152 shaft 138 has a gear 161 which meshes with and drives a similar gear 162 fixed on shaft 148. In this manner, shaft 138 drives shaft 148 so that roller 38 is driven in synchronism with roller 36.

Roller 36 has a cavity 163 to receive housing 142, and housing 142 has a rim or wall 164, substantially closing the opening against entrance of undesired material.

Roller 52, as stated, is mounted in a substantially identical manner, is driven by a joint shaft 166, and drives above-mentioned roller 134 through gears 168 and 178 in a housing 172. Substantially identical construction is used to support and connect rollers 50' and 132, roller 58 tlxging driven by a universal joint shaft 174 (see also FIG.

Charging roller 54 is carried at its small end by a bear ing 175 supported on a depending arm 176, which is in turn fixed to a torsion rod 178 extending diagonally across the upper portion of the machine, generally above roller 36. Torsion rod 178 is journaled in a bearing 180 fixed on a member 182 forming part of the frame of the machine, and in a bearing 184, in the present instance mounted on frame element 144. Roller 54 is carried at its large end on a bearing 186 supported on a substantially horizontal arm 188 also fixed to torsion rod 178. Rod 178 is also supported and journaled in a steady bearing 190 fixed to above-mentioned plate 135. A lever arm 192 is fixed to torsion rod 178 adjacent bearing 190, and extended radially therefrom to a tension member or bolt 194 (see also FIG. 11) engaged with an upper flange portion 196 of frame member 157. Tightening of a nut 198 will raise bolt 194, swinging arm 192 upwardly and turning torsion rod 178 in the region between arms 176 and 188. Such turning will tend to swing arm 176 and shift bearing 175 toward the side of roller 52. At the same time, such turning will tend to swing arm 188 and shift bearing 186 downwardly toward roller 52. Bearings 175 and 186, however, cannot move since they are connected to roller 54, which is fixed in relation to roller 52. Adjusting movement of lever arm 192 therefore introduces a twist or torsional distortion into rod 178, which tends to continually urge arms 176 and 188 toward roller 52, and thereby urge roller 54 with resilient pressure against crop material between itself and roller 52. The amount of pressure is adjustable by manipulation of nut 198, to obtain more or less crushing of the crop material, as desired.

If excessive amounts or slugs of material are introduced between rollers 52 and 54, roller 54 may be forced away from roller 52 by the material, which action is permitted by further twisting of torsion rod 178. It will be understood that the latter is made of suitable resilient material capable of acting as a torsion spring. In other words, it will not be permanently twisted, but will continuously tend to untwist and urge roller 54 resiliently toward roller 52.

Arm 188 has a lug 201 extending over frame member 144 and carrying an adjusting screw 202. Screw 202 may be adjusted downwardly into contact with frame member 144 to limit downward movement of arm 188 and thereby establish a minimum clearance between the large ends of rollers 54 and 52 if desirable. Arm 176 has a stud 204 fixed thereto, extending through a bracket 286 fixed in any suitable manner with the frame of the machine, stud 204 having a nut 208 which may be ad justed to engage bracket 206 and limit the approach of the small end of roller 54 to roller 52.

Plate 129 is fixed to arm 176 by means of bolts 218 and 212 FIG. 18, so that scraper 128 may be adjusted toward and away from the small end of roller 54, bolts 210 and 212 being arranged in slotted holes in plate 129. Arm 130 extends generally upwardly and has a fiange 214 fixed to a web 216 forming part of arm 188. Flange 214 is secured by bolts 218, arranged in slotted holes so that scraper 128 can be adjusted toward and away from the large end of roller 54.

A front wall portion 220 is joined to wall portion 157 to form part of the structure of the machine, as more particularly shown in FIG. 12, and carries a bearing of suitable type 222 in which is journaled abovementioned shaft 148. In this way, the end of roller 38 remote from roller 36 is supported for rotation. In similar manner, a bearing 224 is carried on wall portion 221) and supports a shaft 226 forming a part of roller 134. Generally beneath and between bearings 222 and 224, wall portion 220 provides a slot 228, best shown in FIG. 15. A hearing 230 has outwardly directed guides 232 and 234 which are preferably bifurcated to straddle the edges of slot 228. Bearing 230 carries a shaft 236 forming a part of above-mentioned roller 132 so that the latter may be shifted in position to vary the space between the finishing rollers 38, 134, and 132.

Bearing 230 is urged upwardly in slot 228 by means of a spring 238, engaged with a yoke 240 fixed on wall 220. Spring 2338 presses upwardly against a nut 242, fixed on a bolt 244, fixed to bearing 230 by lock nuts 246. Bolt 244 extends downwardly through yoke 240, and has a head 248 which contacts yoke 240 after limited upward movement of bearing 230. The point at which this will take place is adjustable by means of lock nuts 246. Since the bearings for at least the roller 132 are preferably of a type which will tolerate misalignment, it is possible for hearing 230 to be shifted in slot 228 to move roller 132 in the direction to control the effective space between the three finishing rollers. The amount of pressure necessary to displace roller 132 may be adjusted by means of nut 242, while the minimum clearance or closeness of roller 132 to roller 38 may be adjusted by means of lock nuts 246. By means of these adjustments, the resistance of the finishing rollers to passage of the hay core can be controlled. This resistance determines, in part, the density or hardness of the resulting rolls or pellets. Since rollers 38, 132 and 134 are substantially parallel, and not skewed, then is little tendency for them to propel core 47 axially. It is pressed axially by the material coming from forming rollers 36, 50 and 52. The core 47 must slip in relation to rollers 38, 132 and 134. The resulting sliding friction will impose a resistance to movement of core 47 out of core forming chamber 46. This will cause the core to be compressed to a greater density within the forming chamber before it is expelled. If the finishing rollers are parallel, the resistance will amount to a predetermined value. If they converge slightly, as by reason of a raised position of bearing 230, the resistance will be increased, so that the pellets will be harder. If the rollers 38, 132 and 134 diverge slightly by reason of a lowered position of bearing 230, the resistance will be less, and the pellets will be softer.

Plate 228 provides an opening 250 through which the finished pellets are delivered into trough 42.

12 The spindle There is difiiculty sometimes when material is fed into the core forming space, in getting a core or roll to form in the first instance. This is avoided by providing abovementioned spindle 57, best shown in FIG. 5, and which is extended axially of the core forming chamber, hereinbefore described, and indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6. Spindle 57 is carried in a bearing 254 supported on abovementioned plate 135, and also in a bearing 256, supported on a plate 258, forming part of the framing of the machine. Spindle 57 is preferably freely slidable through bearings 256 and 254, but prevented from being displaced axially by a collar 260, provided with a set screw 262, and by a sprocket 264 fixed on spindle 57 by means of a set screw 266. In this manner, spindle 57 is maintained in desired axial relation with chamber 46, and when desired it is readily adjusted longitudinally by loosening set screws 262 and 266. Spindle 57 may then be shifted axially to the extent desired after which it is again locked in position by tightening set screws 262 and 266. A suitable drive is extended, as will be described, to sprocket 264, and spindle 57 is rotated in the same direction, and substantially at a speed proportional to that of the forming rollers and which may be the same speed as the crop core forming in chamber 46. The rotation of spindle 57 starts the winding process of the crop fibers immediately upon their entering chamber 46, the core of crop material forming about the spindle and being urged axially by the motion of the roller surfaces against the resistance to sliding of the crop material axially on the spindle. Thus, the spindle acts to hold back the axial movement of the core, and in this way to control the density of the latter as it is formed. The axial force developed by the skewed forming rollers, however, is amply strong to insure movement of the core in spite of the resistance of the spindle. Different crop conditions may dictate different axial positions for spindle 57 to achieve a given core density which, as has been described, are readily obtained by adjustment thereof through bearings 256 and 254.

Spindle 57, in addition to starting the wrapping of the core, is capable of transmitting a considerable amount of power thereto to keep it in positive rotation, even though a relatively thick mat of material is being wrapped, and even though bunches or slugs of material may be entering the machine, and which might tend to interfere with such rotation. Rotation of the core tends to insure proper wrapping and prompt expulsion of the core from the forming rollers.

Spindle 57 is shown as having a square cross section from the region of numeral 268 toward the exit end of chamber 46, and the illustrated form is tapered toward the exit end of chamber 46, However, variations on this cross section are contemplated. It is also contemplated that spindles of different cross section might be substituted for each other to suit different conditions. Furthermore, the space occupied by the spindle 57 will appear in the core as the latter moves axially, as a soft or less dense section in the center of the core so that the harder portion of the core will be the region toward the outer surface. In this way, the core is made to have a dense outer portion for good durability, while the inside is more mellow and tempting to the animals.

When the core is cut into pellets, the soft center provides a ready path for escape of moisture so that the pellets will dry satisfactorily in storage.

By choosing suitable proportions of the parts, it is contemplated that an open passageway may be formed through the pellets by the use of a spindle such as 57.

The cutoff mechanism Cutter wheel 40 comprises a disk 280 fixed in any suitable manner on a shaft 282, and provided with a multiplicity of knives 284, arranged around the periphery of disk 280. Each knife 284 i preferably formed of a strip 

1. IN A COMPACTING DEVICE FOR FEEDING CROPS INCLUDING MEANS FOR FEEDING CROP MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF FORMING ROLLERS HAVING AXES ARRANGED IN A SKEWED RELATIONSHIP TO CROSS EACH OTHER IN SPACED RELATION AND PROVIDE A CORE FORMING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS IN THE DIRECTION TO IMPART TO A CORE IN SAID CHAMBER A ROLLING MOTION HAVING A COMPONENT MOVING OUT OF SAID CHAMBER, ROLLER MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CORE OF CROP MATERIAL OUT OF SAID CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR CUTTING THE CORE OF CROP MATERIAL INTO A SERIES OF PELLETS. 